Self-opening receptacle



June 11; 1957 Filed Aug. 2, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

2,7 95,259 SELF-OPENING RECEPTACLE Daniel J. Nash, Jersey City, N. 1., assignor to Nash Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 2, 1955, Serial No. 525,989 7 Claims. (Cl. 150-37 The present invention relates generally to improve- 'ments in pocketbooks, pouches, purses and similar receptacles, and in particular it relates to an improved coin and token receptacle of the flat-bottomed, self-opening, collapsible pouch type, and to the opening mechanism therefor.

There are and have been numerous types of purse, coin and token receptacles, each of which possesses certain advantages and disadvantages. One type of coin purse which is highly desirable is the flat-bottomed, selfopening, collapsible pouch since it is very convenient and offers maximum visibility of the contents thereof. However, the self-opening, collapsible pouch type coin purses heretofore available possess numerous drawbacks, particularly in the deficiencies of the pouch-opening mechanism. These mechanisms either do not adequately open the pouch, or they are extremely'awkward, costly and bulky and difficult to apply and assemble, or they deform the pouch, thereby detracting from its usefulness and appearance.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved pocketbook, pouch, purse or similar receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved collapsible receptacle for coins, tokens and the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-opening, collapsible receptacle for coins, tokens and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved self opening, collapsible pouch having a simple, rugged and inexpensive self-opening mechanism.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-opening, collapsible coin pouch which is positive acting and does not detract from the appearance of the pouch.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a pouch embodying the present invention, illustrated in closed position and carried by a pocket bill-fold or wallet, shown in broken lines;

Figure 2 is a top perspective view thereof in open position, partially broken away for convenience of illustration;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the spring opening mechanism, illustrated in extended position; and

Figure 5 is a top perspective view of another spring opening mechanism in accordance with the present invention, illustrated in fully extended and separated position.

The present invention, in a broad sense, contemplates the provision of an improved, self-opening receptacle comprising a base portion, a pair of laterally spaced flap members hinged to said base portion along substantially parallel hinge lines, gussets between the flap members and the base, and a flap opening mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced helical springs extending along said hinge lines, a connecting arm extending between said helical springs and lying along said base, and legs projecting from said springs and engaging said respective flaps to urge said flaps to open position.

Reference is now made to the drawing, and more particularly to Figures 1 through 4 thereof, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional billfold or wallet carrying on the inner face thereof a collapsible self-opening pouch-type receptacle 12 embodying the present invention. The receptacle 12 includes a base panel 14 of rectangular configuration having a hinge connected to the opposite long edges thereof along hinge lines 16, front and rear flaps 18 and 20 respectively. The base panel 14 is secured to the inner face of the wallet 10 by means of grommets or rivets 22 passing through openings in the base panel 14 and in the inner wall of the wallet 1%, and engaging a relatively stilt backing plate 24 formed of metal, plastic or other suitably stiff material of substantially the same configuration as the base panel 14 and disposed along the opposite face of the inner Wall of the wallet 10.

The side walls of the receptacle 12 are defined by flexible gussets 26 which extend between the opposite side edges of the corresponding flaps 18 and 20, the bottom of the gussets extending along the base panel 14. The top edges of the gussets 26 are of roughly W-shaped outline having arcuate edges extending downwardly and inwardly from the upper edges of flaps 18 and 20 and joined by an upwardly convex edge, as illustrated in the drawing.

The facings or outer surfaces 28 and 30 of the flaps 13 and '20 respectively, the gussets 26 and the base panel 14 are preferably formed of a single sheet of flexible material, such as natural or artificial leather, plastic, fabric or the like. The inner facing sheet 48 has the required configuration and is stitched to the outer facing along lines 32 to form the receptacle. Score lines 34 define the gusset fold lines. A pair of relatively stiff rectangular reinforcing panels 36 are disposed along the inner face of the flap facing material 28 and 30.

The receptacle opening mechanism is preferably formed of a single length of resilient wire and includes a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, helical torsion springs 40 disposed in the corners of the receptacle 12 adjacent to the hinge lines 16 and approximately midway between the ends of the corners of the base panel 14. The inner ends of the helical springs 40 are connected by a cross arm 42 lying along the base panel 14. The opposite ends of the helical springs 40 are provided with L-shaped members for opening the receptacle 12, and which include outwardly extending arms 44 terminating in laterally projecting legs 46, the arms 44 and legs 46 abutting the inner faces of the reinforcing panels 36 normally to urge said panels and the front and rear fiaps 18 and 20 to their open position. It is important to note that the helical springs 40 are of opposite sense, one thereof being wound clockwise and the other counterclockwise. The inner faces of the flaps 18 and 20 and of the base panel 14 are covered by the lining material 48, which covers the spring opening mechanism, and is suitably secured to the flaps and to the base panel.

In order to lock the receptacle 12 in closed position, a male separable fastener 52 is disposed on the outer face of the rear flap 20. A tab 56 has one end enchored to the base of the front flap 18 projecting below the base panel 14. The free end of the tab 56 carries a female 3 a separable fastener, 58,. which is adapted to engage its male counterpart 52. p

In operation, the spring opening mechanism urges the flaps 18 and 20 to their upright position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, thereby providing free access to the interior of the receptacle 12. In order to close the receptacle, the fiap 18 is swung to a collapsed position, the upper edge of flap 18 engaging the rear upwardly directed crotches of, the gussets 2 6 to partially draw the rear flap 20 downwardly. The rear flap is then manually urged to its fully closed position, in which position it is in overlapping relationship relative to the front flap 18, and the separable fasteners 52 and 58 aremated to lock the receptacle 12. Upon disengagement of the fastener elements 52 and 58, the spring mechanism immediately swings the flaps 18 and 20 outwardly and extends the receptacle 12 to its fully open position, as in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure of the, drawing, there is illustrated an alternate form of spring opening mechanism 64 which functions in amanner similar to the spring opening mech anism 38 previously described. The spring opening mechanism, indicated generally by reference numeral 64, in

cludes a pair of similarly shaped, Linterfitting elements each including a helical spring 66 having at one end thereof an inwardly directed arm 68 terminating in the laterally extending leg 70, and at the other end thereof an outwardly directed arm 72 terminating in a laterally extending leg 74. It should be noted that the legs 70 and 74 are substantially co-extensive with the corresponding helical springs 66. In assembly, the legs 70 are brought into nesting registry with the opposite helical springs 66, as designated by the arrows in Figure 5 of the drawing. The assembled spring mechanism 64 is disposed in the receptacle 12 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the spring mechanism and also operates in a similar manner.

While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and omissions may be made Without departing from the spiritthereof.

I claim:

1. An improved self-opening receptacle comprising a base portion, a pair of laterally spaced flap members hinged to said base portion along substantially parallel hinge lines, flexible gussets: extending between the opposite edges of said flaps, and a flap opening mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced helical springs ex tending along said hinge lines, a connecting arm extending between said helical springs and lying along said base, and legs projecting from said springs and engaging said respective flaps to urge said flaps to open position.

2. An improved self-opening receptacle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sum of the heights of said flaps is greater than the distance between said hinge lines whereby said flaps overlap each other when in closed position.

3. An improved self-opening receptacle in accordance with claim 1, including locking means for releasably maintaining said flaps in closed position.

4. An improved self-opening receptacle in accordance with claim 1, including a lining member extending along the inner faces of said base portion and said flap members, said flap opening mechanism being covered by said lining.

5. An improved self-opening receptacle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flap opening mechanism is formed of a single length of resilient wire.

6. An improved self-opening receptacle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said legs extending from said springs are of L-shaped configuration.

7. An improved self-opening receptacle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flap opening mechanism includes a pair of mating members, each of which comprises a helical spring, an inner L-shaped member extending laterally from one end of each of said springs and an outer L-shaped member extending laterally from the other end of each of said springs, each of said inner L-shaped members having longitudinally extending legs nesting in the helical spring of the opposite mating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,191,557 Cline Feb. 27, 1940 2,291,888 Ericksen et al. Aug. 4, 1942 2,564,570 Hatfield Aug. 14, 1951 

